The Smart Devices

Identifying security systems, devices that will play in future applications

By Jay Darfler

Apr 01, 2017

A study commissioned by Intel found that roughly 16
percent of Americans now own at least one smart
home device, but nearly 70 percent of those surveyed
believe smart homes will be as commonplace as smartphones
in the next 10 years. Additionally, according to
a report issued by iControl Networks, the No. 1 driver for adopting
smart home devices is security.

For this reason, it is important for the home security industry to
take steps to engage with manufacturers of smart home devices to
ensure a smart home is also a safe home. Consumers are demanding
the modern conveniences afforded by smart home devices integrate
with their security systems to provide a common user interface that
will control all aspects of their home. As an industry, we need to be
incorporating 24/7 professional monitoring into many of these devices.
By combining human and technology capabilities, we can help
ensure these products work effectively, helping to keep people, loved
ones, homes and businesses safe.

For example, we recently announced several partnerships with
leaders in consumer technology, including LG, Samsung and Amazon,
to showcase how professional monitoring can enhance some of
the most innovative technology devices on the market today.

ADT recently introduced ADT Pulse security and home automation
service nearly seven years ago. Adding Amazon Echo and Echo
Dot products to the Pulse ecosystem is a natural extension for consumers.
These customers can now integrate home automation skills
with Amazon Alexa to arm and disarm their home security systems
through simple voice commands and a secure PIN. It will become increasingly
important for security providers to expand their API strategies
to continue to add best-in-class smart home devices to their
core technology platforms.

As consumers become more mobile, it is important to extend security
applications to fit their lifestyle. Everyone deserves to feel safe,
no matter where they are. Today, only 20 percent of residential homes
are protected by a professionally monitored home security system.
The question then becomes: how does the industry serve the remaining
80 percent of consumers who are interested in smart home products
and services, but are not interested in a professionally installed
security system and long-term contracts?

For many consumers, a simple month-to-month agreement offering
professional monitoring for certain smart devices may be the
answer, whether those devices were purchased from a third party or
already owned by the consumer.

Supported products could range from wearables to connected hubs
to connected cameras or other smart devices. When a consumer adds
professional monitoring to these products, they can have access to services
such as emergency panic response, intrusion detection and response,
and life safety services such as smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide
detection and response, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long.

Other devices on the market that are clearly a fit for inclusion in
the “new age of personal security” would include LG Smart Security
(LGSS), an all-in-one security and home automation device with full
HD video capabilities. LGSS could serve as the smart home integration
device allowing consumers to add other connected products and
control them through a dedicated LG Smart Security mobile app.
Customers could also choose to add intrusion detection and security
video storage solutions based on their lifestyle and what they need to
protect. Many consumers may take both.

Wearables such as the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 3 smart watches
can now support panic response features, enabling users to signal for
help by quickly tapping on the panic button app directly from the
smart watch interface. This app provides key location information to
third-party monitoring companies and emergency responders.

Looking beyond traditional brick and mortar security, we also
recognize that safety and security doesn’t stop at the consumers’ front
door. It is important to extend the basics of home-based security services
to customers and their families so they feel safe and secure no
matter where they are. Technology today consists of a robust collection
of services allowing the user to know at a glance where family
members are with detailed mapping and private location tools. They
also provide local crime alert information, and driving analysis tools
to protect against texting and driving and other distracted driving
behaviors—a feature especially useful for parents with teen drivers
in the house. Finally, and most importantly, they have the ability to
offer roadside assistance, automatic crash detection, and emergency
response. Now if you layer professional monitoring on top of these
services, you can provide an end-to-end security solution for those
that are on-the-go.

By engaging with leading consumer electronics manufacturers,
we strive to enhance our traditional offerings while extending our
reach beyond the home. As one of the industry’s largest security provider,
we will continue to seek out new technology partners to expand
our reach further into the new connected world and hopefully
contribute to the changing face of security to encompass a new class
of consumer.

This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of Security Today.